now tonight i’ve got a message on my
heart uh it’s not new i have preached
this many many times in many many places
this passage of scripture
this is what the lord showed me about
america as far back as i as i recall it
would be back in the 90s
probably pre-911
during the tech boom when there were
more millionaires being made in this
country than perhaps ever before in
history during the seasons when we
thought that we were the greatest and
burp possibly at that time the greatest
world power
that was
in existence at the time
i was still given of god this message
the lord showed me a pattern of where
america was going to go in the future i
remember in the 90s i was preaching in
times square church and i turned on the
platform to pastor david wilkerson who
was sitting there on the platform and i
told him i believe that i’m going to be
here long enough in america to see the
demise of this great nation
and everything that the lord has spoken
to be has happened it’s unfolding
exactly as it was shown
25 years ago almost now
i’ve preached this message numerous
times in new york city i preached it in
washington i’ve spoken at a pastor’s
conferences i’ve spoken at many other
places as many people that i felt as
could could hear the word of god and
were willing to consider
what the holy spirit was saying about
the days that were just ahead of us you
know back in the 90s and early 2000s the
days were just ahead but we have now
entered these days that i’m going to
speak about tonight i’m going to speak
about it
in a little bit of a different slant and
the message title is as the ship sinks
tell us what to do
as the ship sinks
and there’s nobody that’s of sound
reasoning today
that doesn’t see the bow of this great
nation suddenly heading underwater we
begin to realize we are in a deeper
trouble than we’ve ever imagined we
could be in after 400 years of being a
nation
we’re in a downward spiral on almost
every front morally spiritually socially
militarily financially it just seems
that the the whole nation is circling
the drain at the moment
and we’re we’re seeing something unfold
before our eyes now
lest you be discouraged there is a good
side to this there is something that god
spoke through this story in acts chapter
27 and we get to this in just a few
moments and it’s going to be the hope
that you have for the future for
everyone here as as isaac said in the
song for the person who feels unlovable
or untouchable the person who’s addicted
the person whose family seems to be
falling apart there’s a message in this
for you that will give you hope and
courage and strength for the future so
father god in jesus name
lord i ask you god to anoint me with
your holy spirit
we have not come here to entertain
we have come here to pray
we’ve come here to open your word we’ve
come here to receive guidance from you
oh god for we recognize
that we are now in a perilous time in
history
god almighty there are so many people
who are so afraid of the days that are
just ahead of us but lord you always
have a word you always have a pattern
and a plan there is a way of safety to
anyone who wants to hear it so god would
you give us the grace and give me the
grace to speak this tonight and give
everyone in the sanctuary and those that
are online the ability to hear it lord
you have spoken this prophetically for
years and now it’s coming to pass it is
the test of a prophetic word if it comes
to pass it was birthed in the mind and
heart of god so father i thank you lord
tonight you’ll give me the grace to
speak this one more time
lord jesus christ because i see
something in it that is going to give
every one of us hope for the future
in your precious name
amen and amen
acts chapter 27 here’s the scene
there’s a group of people on a journey
there’s all kinds of voices there’s a
there’s 275 voices on this particular
journey and there’s one voice that
speaks for god you know there are
seasons in society where the voice
of god seems to be at a minimum
and even in spite of the fact that paul
perhaps had a history he had a
reputation he there were literally
miracles happening through his hands and
through his life yet the people on that
journey chose to disregard his voice he
warned them he said listen don’t take
this journey if you go if you embark on
this journey it’s going to cost the ship
this this vessel that’s carrying you is
going to be is going to sink it’s going
to be destroyed and he said and people’s
lives are going to be in in in jeopardy
now paul said please i can see him
pleading with the people please listen
to me don’t take this journey i can hear
billy graham in america warning the
nation for years don’t take this journey
that you’re embarking on i hear david
wilkerson and others like him many
others many pastors probably in small
towns throughout america warning their
congregations don’t take this journey
this journey of self-indulgence this
journey of crafting a course ahead of
you and not listening to the voice of
god
putting the voice of god as they did
with paul into the belly of the ship
saying we’re not interested
in what you have to say do what you have
to do down there all by yourself we know
what we are doing we’re crafting this
journey and this journey is going to be
wonderful it’s going to make us don’t
forget it was a not just a journey of
transporting prisoners but it was also a
a journey of commerce the people on that
ship are going to make money the owners
are going to make money it’s all about
making money we don’t want to hear
this voice that says don’t focus in this
direction don’t take this journey
this voice that’s saying this journey is
going to end up in the loss of
everything that you’re trusting and it’s
going to be the also the threatening of
the loss of life
paul was warning
but the people wouldn’t listen the
owners and the helmsman of the ship and
such like
it says when the wind blew softly acts
27 13 supposing that obtained the desire
putting out to see off they went what a
wonderful journey this is going to be i
remember somebody on the radio saying in
the early 2000s there’s more
millionaires than in the history of the
country and and besides that we have all
these these uh narcotics in a sense to
make us feel better uh when we don’t
feel good about ourselves how much
better can it be and i remember thinking
when i heard this on the radio god
almighty this is exactly what was
happening in acts chapter 27 this
exactly what you’ve been speaking to my
heart about all these years people
bragging and boasting about there’s no
end there’s no end to the wealth there’s
no end to the this incredible journey
don’t don’t put the words of the holy
one of israel before us we’re not
interested in god and we’re not
interested in these words that are
trying to tell us this is not a good
trajectory
that you’re on
and so they headed off on their journey
just like we did in america and not long
after they took off on the journey it
says a tempestuous headwind arose called
euroclyden the ship was caught we could
not head into the wind so we let her
drive and see suddenly a storm arose
suddenly things began to change suddenly
this swirl of uncontrollable events
started to happen around them
and the scripture says that when they
had they used cables to undergird the
ship you remember that the bailouts back
in the in the 2000s of our major
corporations as as they began to
many of them began to go bankrupt and
you think about even today giving out
free money to try to keep the country
afloat
and they
they
were exceedingly driven
tempest tossed and then they lightened
the ship and on the third day it says in
verse 19 we threw the ship’s tackle
overboard with our own hands
these proven things
that had gotten so many
from point a to point b for for years
and years and years
it’s almost inconceivable they took it
in their hands and they threw it
overboard like we threw overboard the
2 000 year old definition of marriage we
just suddenly decided one day we’re
going to throw it overboard and redefine
this we we threw overboard the
protection guidance of our children we
threw overboard prayer in our schools
and we we just started throwing
overboard everything that made this a
nation that became actually the envy of
the world for many many years
all over the world it gave us the
ability to do technological things that
other cultures and thousands of years
were not able to do it’s just amazing
the the the the wisdom the ability the
military might the inventions that god
gave to this particular nation then we
we started just throwing it all
overboard every every day now in the
news we’re throwing some new thing
overboard that we’ve trusted in for
years and years and years and of course
the the greatest of all tragedy is
throwing god
himself
that gave us what we have and made us
who we are and took us on this journey
and took a little group of people that
landed in plymouth 400 years ago that
were emaciated and weak and surrounded
by enemies and half of them died and the
other half all they could do is praise
the america started in a prayer meeting
i don’t know how many people know that
just 53 pilgrims left and their prayer
will have to be something like this if
god if you will give us a place where
where we can worship you
freely and and with with with conscience
according to the word of god we will
live for you and we promise this nation
will be a nation that brings glory to
your name they actually made what they
called a covenant with god
and
we threw that overboard we’ve thrown our
history overboard we don’t even teach
the right history in our schools anymore
all of these these these beautiful
stories that are still discoverable are
are all but eradicated and we’re having
to deal with a revisionist history that
is not based on factor and it’s not
based on on truth
and god took that little group of people
no resources
no chance of survival surrounded by
enemies and from that little group of 53
people that met in a in a house that’s
still there
the new house is on the foundation of
that original house it’s lot number one
america
and from that little prayer meeting came
a nation of 330 million people
that has been the envy of the world a
place of prosperity and freedom a place
where we could at one time
worship god freely and according to
conscience but now we have thrown that
overboard as well
the word of god is becoming hate speech
the ways of god is becoming bigoted
undesired
and it’s really tragic what’s happening
in our society
it says now in verse 20 when neither son
nor stars appeared for many days and no
small tempest beat upon us
all hope that we would be saved was
finally given up we’re not far from that
moment now in this nation
we’re on the edge of an imminent
financial collapse we’re on the edge of
a complete social meltdown we’re on the
edge of seeing more and increased
violence in our cities and in our
streets and there’s a point coming
where hope natural hope is going to give
way to despair
and it says when neither son nor stars
appeared for many days and no small
tempest beat on us all hope that we
would be saved was finally given up but
after long abstinence from food
paul
stood in the midst of them and said men
you should have listened to me and not
have sailed from crete and incurred this
disaster and loss now i urge you to take
heart for there will be no loss of life
among you but also of the ship after
long abstinence paul this is my hope now
for the future
after long abstinence the church
after long absence preachers that nobody
wanted to listen to after long absence
suddenly somebody calls for the word of
god again
i believe in this generation it’s going
to be on mass i think we’re going to
live to see a significant turning to god
it doesn’t mean the ship is going to be
saved
but we’re going to see in our time a
significant turning to god in a season
of crisis and i i’m thankful for that
without the crisis they would not have
turned to the word of god
without the famine the people of
elijah’s they would not have gone to the
top of mount carmel without the people
of egypt oppressing the israelites they
would not have cried out to god and when
moses showed up they would not have
listened they would not have believed
that god had sent him
god’s mercy will pull out every carpet
of security that’s underneath the people
about to perish so that we will consider
our ways and i personally am really
thankful for that i’m an optimist
it’s not about saving the ship and
losing the people
let the ship go down if it needs to go
down if the people’s hearts are going to
turn i don’t know how it happened but
somebody somewhere said where is that
man that told us we shouldn’t undertake
this journey
where’s that he’s down in level c and
deck f or whatever he’s down stuck in
the bowels of the ship and i don’t know
if it’s all the people i don’t know if
it’s the centurion commander or the
captain of the ship but somebody said
get that man up here
there’s a day coming folks listen to me
your neighbors are going to knock on
your door and say give me a reason for
the hope that you still have in your
heart
i hear you and your your family singing
on wednesday night you have this thing
on your i can hear it through my walls
you got this this meeting this prayer
meeting called worldwide permitting
what’s that about and what is it that
you believe and and give me help me to
understand see in the moment of crisis
suddenly they’re calling for the word of
god family members that weren’t
interested in you or your god are
suddenly going to be calling you you’re
going to get a call you’re going to get
an email you’re going to get a tax
they’re going to say tell me about the
god that you believe in and i am just so
so
thankful for this and see the first
pastor tim delena says every sunday it’s
as easy as abc what’s i’m going to say
it’s as easy as abcd tonight i’m adding
a d to pastor tim’s abc tonight
admit you can’t save yourself
admit you can’t save yourself and call
for the voice that you have been
resisting that’s my cry to you tonight
those that are sitting at home and
you’re addicted you’re afflicted you’re
struggling you’re trying you you you
still believe that somehow in your own
strength you’re going to get out of this
the way out is to admit you can’t get
out in your own strength you won’t get
out you will always go back to what you
used to be and actually you’ll be worse
in the in the end than you were in the
beginning
so admit that you can’t save yourself
and call as they did for the voice that
you have resisted the voice of god call
for the words of god you can do it in
your bedroom tonight you get to say god
start to speak to me i want to hear your
voice
show me the way forward
and in verse 22 paul says i urge you to
take heart there will be no loss of life
among you but only of the shep so
i mean in the natural that doesn’t make
sense i mean this storm is amazing these
waves have got to be 20 feet high
this this ship is is going to be broken
to pieces by the ferocity of the storm
everyone who’s a seafarer knows this
thing is going down just like everybody
who’s in the know
concerning our economy in this
particular time is is forecasting a
hurricane just ahead of us
but nevertheless
paul says i urge you to take heart there
will be no loss of life among you but
only of the ship so
point two is believe that god has made a
way for you to be saved believe it
god made a way for you to be saved when
jesus christ went to the cross two
thousand years ago and gave his life and
shed his blood for you among the last
things he said on that cross were the
words it is finished the the power of
hell to take you down the power of
despair to swallow you the power of this
world to take away your relationship
with god had been broken at the cross
jesus christ triumphed over your storm
triumphed over everything that wants to
take you down and destroy you as things
around you begin to sink you don’t have
to go with it because god has made a way
for you to escape
believe
believe that god will be faithful he
said to his own people i will never
leave you
or forsake you
now either that’s true or that’s not
true
i happen to know and believe that it is
true
because i’ve walked along a long enough
with god to know that those words can be
trusted
he will not leave you and he will not
forsake you
paul says i urge you to take heart there
will be no loss of life among you
but only
of the ship and he said i believe that
it will be just as god told me however
we must run aground
on a certain island so paul was saying
it doesn’t mean the storm is going to
stop
it means the storm’s power over you is
going to be broken
you have to understand that
the ship is still going to be lost
it’s still going to sink as a matter of
fact it’s going to be broken into pieces
but you are going to be spared
the scripture tells us that they dropped
four anchors from the stern and they
prayed for
day to come
and then some of the sailors were
seeking to escape the ship and they let
down the lifeboats into the sea under
the pretense or the that they were doing
something to secure the ship
but paul said to the centurion and the
soldiers unless these men stay in the
ship
you cannot be saved so admit that you
can’t save yourself believe that god has
made a way for you to be saved
and confess jesus christ
as not just only your savior but also
your lord
that means he has the right to tell you
what to do
which way you need to go
paul said if you don’t stay in the ship
you cannot be saved don’t try to craft
another way
out of this dilemma than the way that
god has made for you through his son
jesus christ he knows how to save you
and he knows how to keep you
and then as the day began to dawn in
verse 33 of acts 27 paul implored them
all to take food and i think i like the
original king james it says take meat in
other words you’ve there’s a lot of
people who’ve just lived on on spiritual
fluff
that’s not going to get you through the
coming storm
take some meat
in other words dig into the word of god
devour that just as the people in in the
days of uh moses in egypt they they had
to consume the lamb within their their
homes take time to consume the word of
god take time to read the word of god
take time to ingest the promises of god
take time to ingest the hard truths in
the word of god for example in this
world you shall have tribulation jesus
said those words don’t push them away
any longer he said you follow me and
you’re going to have trouble in this
world but be of good cheer he said for i
have overcome the world
the world will come against you
circumstances will try to take you down
but he says don’t let it take away your
joy because i promise never to leave you
or forsake you and i have overcome
everything that threatens to take away
your security and your safety
in the future
take some nourishment he said this is
this is for your survival
and he said now here’s the plan
the ship is going to get stuck at a
certain place and the violence of the
sea is going to bust it to pieces
and i want you all whoever in any way
you can you grab a piece of wood and you
hang on to it
and you start swimming for sure
now i love that i mean i mean can’t god
make us walk on the water
i mean like naming the syrian can he
just wave his hand and make everything
good can’t didn’t he calm the storm
didn’t he stand by the boat and said
wind be still and waves become my and
and he wants me to grab a piece of wood
and swim to shore and that’s the d
decide
to eat what he gives you and go where he
tells you to go
follower he doesn’t do everything the
same way every time
follow him even if it means swimming to
shore
grab a hold of a piece of wood not a
piece of wood that we have is called the
cross of jesus christ it’s really big
and it floats it floats really good
you hang on to the whatever piece of the
cross you can get a hold of you hang on
to that cross and the waves will beat on
you and that and the winds will howl and
the storms will threaten but that cross
doesn’t sink it floats the storm can’t
take it down the waves can’t push it
under and everyone placing their trust
and confidence in christ is going to
make it to the other side
going to make it to the place of safety
in god going to make it to a place where
we will sing we will shout we will dance
we will give god glory it might be a
rainy place it might be a cold place as
it was for them but in that place the
power of god began to be known again in
that place healing started to happen in
that place the snake was pushed off into
the fire in that place every man woman
every person on that ship was given a
chance
to receive jesus christ as lord and
savior because you better believe that’s
what paul was speaking to this group of
people about christ as savior it doesn’t
mean they were saved but they had seen
the power of god and they were given a
chance that’s my prayer now for america
god show your power one more time
god in our in our home fellowships in
our connect groups and our prayer
meetings heal us give sight to the blind
set free the oppressed deliver the
addicted god almighty let your power be
known one more time
if we have to swim to get to that place
in the natural you know it was
impossible
you know i spent a lot of vacation time
at the ocean and when waves are that big
the undertow is so strong you can’t get
to shore you can’t even get to shore in
a boat
yet every one of them made it
because the promises of god
are yeah amen i mean i think we sang
about that right tonight yes and amen
are the promises of god and if he tells
you you’re going to make it
you’re going to make it
even when it looks like you’re not
i can tell you not be fearful i mean you
got 20 foot waves and you’re hanging
onto a board
you’re kicking your feet and saying well
paul said we’re going to make it so here
i go you’re on your back and you’re
kicking your feet and the waves are
tolerant it’s building i mean the odds
of getting there are zero in the natural
that whole crew should have drowned
everybody should have drowned on that
boat but not one of them did and as they
stood around the fire
and they saw that the serpent had no
power
against the life of paul and they saw
the healing of god beginning to flow
through his hands i have to believe that
we’re going to meet a lot of these
people in heaven and when i get there
i’m going to say tell me what it was
like you know what was it really like on
that ship and and what did paul look
like when he came to the deck and tell
me about the communion service that paul
had when he broke the bread and gave
thanks in the midst of a sinking ship
and a storm this is where you and i come
in this is where we go to communion now
as a church and we break bread that’s
what we’re going to do right now
together so at home you can get some
bread and some juice and we’re going to
break bread as paul did on that ship and
say god
thank you that you allowed us to be here
in this generation
thank you lord that you’ve sent us on
this journey for the sake of these
people
it’s not about us it’s about them
thank you lord that that i get to swim
along with them i get to go through the
storm with them but but in the middle of
it all you’ve given me a word that can
make their hearts glad
thank you lord it’s not about me and my
protection and my provision it’s all
about them
you see that’s what we see in bible
school that genuine christianity
is expressed in living for the benefit
of others
that’s what paul was doing he was living
for the sake of others
and god gave him
the 275
that were traveling with him
i can just imagine them around that fire
right on that island it must have been
something else you know
they see this guy he’s he’s just got joy
in his life i don’t know he’s just got
joy and they’re looking and this guy’s a
prisoner and this guy’s this guy’s being
taken before uh caesar who’s a nut
caesar thinks he’s god by the way at
this time
and paul’s going there to tell no you’re
not god you know there is another god
he’s going there to do what he always
does and he’s just so thankful like i
mean
i often pray when i read paul’s life and
say god would you please help me
like i complain if i have an ingrown
toenail you know what i mean
this guy is a prisoner this guy it’s
sloshing people are vomiting down there
it stinks and they’re in the storm and
they’re they’re in the belly of the ship
they don’t even know what’s going on
they don’t even know if they’re going to
the bottom of the ocean but yet paul is
praying and god says don’t be afraid
paul i’m taking you before caesar i mean
that would be like you and i prayed
tonight and he said to you don’t be
afraid my daughter don’t be afraid my
son i’m sending you to jail for 15 years
you know like it’s you know that’s
that’s like but to paul
he knew that was the plan of god he
didn’t fully understand it and god says
and because you’re willing to undertake
this journey i’m giving you the 275
people that are traveling with you
think it through
and he just stands on the deck and he’s
we’re going to do that tonight we’re
going to break the bread
and we’re going to partake in the juice
that represents his shed blood and say
god
thank you for giving us the privilege of
walking in the footsteps of our savior
that we’re born in a generation that’s
sinking
but here we are
here we are
men women children young and old my god
and you have a plan for our lives and by
your grace we’re not going alone
we’re going to take others with us
as they see within us the confidence and
the joy when they saw
paul’s countenance on the deck of the
ship the scripture says they they took
heart
they took heart the whole thing is going
down
but one man destroys the power of the
storm
one man plants hope in people’s hearts
again
that’s why you and i are alive in this
generation
and that’s the call on your life my
brother my sister that are listening at
home tonight you’re not called to be
just an addict or a depressed person or
a drunk or whatever it is an ex whatever
you think you are
you’re a son you’re a daughter of the
king you’re an ambassador of this great
victory
so why don’t you rise up tonight
and admit
and believe and confess
and decide
i’m going with god even if i got to swim
to get where he’s got me going i’m if i
don’t care if it’s cold i don’t care how
high the waves are i’m grabbing a hold
of that cross and i’m going
i’m going to where god wants me to go so
father i just want to thank you tonight
jesus christ
lord uh you are speaking something
profound
to every heart now
we’re we’ve come to the end we’re in the
last days now
soon and very soon you’re going to take
us all home
but until that day
god would you give us the grace
to sing in the storm
would you give us the grace lord to
break bread and say thank you lord for
allowing me to be born at this time
and would you help me not to spend my
whole day focused on my own troubles
but help me god to think about the
others here who
who don’t have the assurance of heaven
and they so desperately need it now
before we go to communion before we sing
a song i’m going to ask you to pray a
prayer with me those that are online
tonight
just a prayer of admission god i can’t
save myself and i believe that you have
come
jesus christ as the son of god and you
died
to pay the price for my wrong which the
bible calls sin
so that i can be saved
and i can be set free
and i believe tonight that you’re going
to save me
but i want to make you lord of my life
as well
i want to give you the right to govern
my life and to lead me
and i ask you for the courage
to cause me to follow you even when i
don’t understand where you’re leading
and even when it looks like i could
drown
give me the courage to believe you god
let’s pray this prayer together tonight
and i want people online to take the
time
take the time
there was a new york city detective last
week that prayed
this prayer and texted in decided
there’s people all over the place
listening in this prayer meeting tonight
they will text in just as this police
officer did and says like i’ve seen it
all and i realize we’re going down and
i want to live for god
[Music]
pray these words with me please at home
tonight lord jesus christ
i can’t save myself
i know that now
but i believe
that you made a way for me
to be set free
and to come back home with you
i believe that jesus christ
is the son of god
and he died
to pay the price for my sin
and he was raised again
to prove to me
that if i trust in him
that i too
will be raised out of death
and brought into the life of god for me
jesus lead me now
be the god of my life
give me the courage
to go where you lead me
to follow
even when i don’t understand it
because you will not fail me
and you will not forsake me
from this day forward
i am yours jesus
[Music]
and i believe
that you are mine
i am a child of god
[Music]
and when i die
[Music]
heaven will be my home
and while i live
christ will be my god
[Music]
in jesus name
amen
if you prayed that from your heart and
you made that your own prayer
and you meant that i’m going to ask you
to text the word decided just like this
new york city detective did last week
text the word decided to 51 000 on your
cell phone that’s decided
51 000
let us get in touch with you
to encourage you we’re not gonna call
you physically but send you a video and
encourage you and
help you get started in your walk with
god or maybe you don’t want us to help
you but at least tell us that you prayed
the prayer tonight
so that we can pray for you
we love you so much we’ll be back now in
a moment just to break bread
and share in the victory of the cross of
jesus christ and celebrate
your victory
amen